Man who fled court heading to trial
The man who escaped the prisoner’s box and fled a Red Deer courtroom in February is heading to trial.
Charged with hitting two people with bear spray during a bank robbery in Red Deer, Dustin Aaron Clark, 35, has re-elected to be tried by a judge and jury in early 2014 in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
He had previously chosen a trial by judge alone in Court of Queen’s Bench.
Police allege that a disguised man armed with bear spray entered the TD Canada Trust branch in the Red Deer Village Mall and demanded cash.
Clark is charged with two counts of assault with a weapon as well as one count each of robbery, disguised with intent, mischief, theft under $500 and possession of a dangerous weapon.
Jury selection for his trial is set for Jan. 17, 2014, with the trial scheduled to start on the same day.
Clark is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing, where the Crown will present his trial witnesses, on May 31, 2013, on separate charges relating to an armed robbery at the Servus Credit Union at 67th Street and Taylor Drive on Sept. 13, 2012.
Clark attempted to flee the prisoner’s box during court proceedings on Feb. 4. He managed to escape the upstairs court room, but was captured at the exit by Alberta Sheriffs.
